Congress and the Marine Corps Caseworker Handbook - 113th Congress, 2013 Edition

Scope

The Caseworker Handbook is the Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) reference for congressional caseworkers fielding constituent inquiries about Marines, Marine Corps programs, and Marine Corps policies. The handbook covers restrictions on release of information, personnel policies (recruiting, reserve, assignments, special pays, promotions), casualty affairs (notification, funerals, survivor benefits), community outreach, and Marine Corps program contacts.

Audience

Congressional caseworkers handling constituent inquiries related to Marines and the Marine Corps. Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs (OLA) staff. Marine Corps S-1 officers and adjutants drafting responses to congressional inquiries. Marine Corps Liaison Officers in House and Senate offices.

Content scope

• Restrictions on release of information (Privacy Act, FOIA framework).
• Personnel policies (recruiting, reserve obligations, assignments, special pays, promotions, separations).
• Casualty affairs (notification process, funerals, survivor benefits).
• Community outreach (doing business with the Marine Corps, photographs, flag presentations).
• Marine Corps program contact directory.
• Congressional liaison procedures.

Connection to Marine Corps policy

• SECNAVINST 5730.5 Procedures for Handling Congressional Affairs Matters.
• MCO 5740.4 Marine Corps Liaison to Congress.
• MCO 5740.4B Relationship with the Surveys and Investigations Staff, House Appropriations Committee.
• DODD 5400.07 DoD Freedom of Information Act Program.
• 5 USC 552 Freedom of Information Act.
• 5 USC 552a Privacy Act of 1974.

Status

Dated. Published for the 113th Congress (2013 Edition). The current Congress is the 119th. The procedural content remains substantially usable for congressional caseworker engagement procedures. Personnel policy facts, contact directories, and benefit details are stale and require verification against current sources. The Marine Corps Office of Legislative Affairs publishes updated editions. Verify against the current OLA publication for any constituent inquiry response.